When city people go among forests and hills, they drink in the freshair and weird scenery of rural surroundings, with much more relish,enjoyment, and appreciation, than do the life-long residents theyfind there.
For the same reason, the great drama of metropolitan existence fallsmost forcibly upon those just from the clear streams and greenmeadows of the country. Their impressions then are deeper, and theirfeelings more intense than if they were city born and bred.
With the latter fact in view, this book is an effort to reproducesome of the effects of city scenes and character upon the intellectand imagination of two people from the country:
First, a young student, who has travelled the well-beaten roads of acollege course, but is just entering real life, and now for thefirst time walks the paved and palace-bordered streets of which hehas heard and read so much.
Second, an old farmer, with very little "book-learning," but a clearbrain, a warm heart, and independent judgment, and a habit ofphilosophizing upon everything he sees, which habit he brings to thecity, and applies to the strange facts he witnesses.
These, with certain incidental thoughts and characters encounteredand discussed, constitute the present work. It will be found, asintended, sketchy and suggestive rather than elaborate and complete.Note-books and diaries are designed, not so much for the history ofa career or an event, as a light to the memory, a stimulus to theimagination, and a help to the heart.[Pg 10]
It is the hope of the author that his book may perform those officesfor you, his readers, and that it will rouse your pity of pain, yourenjoyment of honest mirth, your hatred of sham and wrong, and yourlove and adoration of the Resolute and the Good, and their winsomechild, the Beautiful.
In which case he shakes hands with his large and loved constituency,and continues happy.
W. C.